Lady&#39;s handbag and the like



May 1, 1945.

H. S. FORST LADYS HANDBAG AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 9, 1945 mlr'ale zi'or Patented May 1, 1945 I LADYSS HANDBAG AND THE LIKE Harry S. Forst, Philadelphia, 'Pa., assignor to Hugo Barol, trading as Forst & Company, Philadelphia, Pa.

I Application January 9, 1943, Serial No. 471,823

2 Claims.

This invention relates to ladies handbags and the like, and it relates more particularly to the provision in such bags, preferably in addition to the usual pockets, of an'additional pocket of a more or less secret character, the presence of which will not be apparent upon a merely casual examination of the bag.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide, in a ladys handbag or similar device, an additional internal pocket of a more or less secret character, which pocket, however, will be readily accessible to the user, and which may be provided without appreciable increase in cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel structural arrangement by means of which there may be inexpensively provided an additicnal pocket which willnot be readily apparent upon an ordinary examination of the bag, but which at all times will be readily and conveniently accessible to the user.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a, perspective view of a lady's handbag embodying the main features of the present invention, the same being shown opened to dis close the interior arrangement thereof.

Fig. 2 is a similar view but with the portion containing the secret pocket turned upwardly to its operative position for affording access to the interior thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the portion of the structure by means of which the secret compartment is provided, the same being shown before the ends thereof are stitched together and before the same is mounted in the bag.

It will, of course, be understood that the de scription and drawing are illustrative merely and that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the bag in may be made of any preferred material, and in any desired style. A partition member Il may be stitched along its side edge as at l2, and along its bottom edge as at l3, to the lining I4 of the bag It]. The partition member II may be made of any preferred material, and preferably is covered with the same material as the lining III of the bag. However, the partition member H is not stitched or otherwise fastened at the top, thereby providing the usual internal pocket in the side of the bag.

To the partition member N there is attached,

in a manner to be presently described, another pocket-forming member l5 which comprises a sheet of flexible material, also preferably covered with the same material as the lining I 4 of the bag l0. This pocket-forming member I5 is shown in detached perspective in Fig. 3 of the drawing, before the same is mounted on the partition member I l, and the same preferably comprises three main panels l6, l1, and I8. In the preferred construction the panel l6 and the panel I8 are each joined to the intermediate panel I? along horizontal crease lines, but, of course, it will be understood that if desired this portion of the structure might be made of separate pieces stitched or otherwise joined to each other. The panel [6 is preferably provided with a mp1s, and the panel l8 may also be provided with a flap 2U. Snap fastener elements 2| and 22 may be provided on the flap members and the panel members respectively for securing the flaps l9 and 20 in closed positions.

The pocket-forming member l5 above described has the vertical edges of the panels stitched to each otherthereby providing two pockets normally closed by the flaps, and into which access is had from the opposite horizontal edges,

The pocket-forming member I 5 above described comprises a unitary structure as attached to the partition member I l preferably by stitching as at 23 along a line adjacent to the joinder line between the flap l9 and the panel [6. The pocket member I5 normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, with the flap, however, in the closed position and, when access is desired to the pocket between the panels l6 and H, in the normal use of the handbag, it is merely neces-. sary to open the flap H) to permit access to said pocket.

The pocket between the panels I! and I8 will not normally be perceptible, and the presence thereof will not be apparent to anyone making a merely casual or ordinary examination of the bag and its contents. However, the owner of the bag may have ready and convenient access to the pocket between the panels I1, and 18 by merely raising the entire pocket device, the stitching 23 serving as a hinge for this purpose, whereupon the flap 2!] may be opened, and access had to the secret pocket which is normally closed by said flap. Whenever the pocket member is released, the same will fall naturally to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing whereupon the flap 20 which closes the secret pocket will be effectively concealed and shielded from view.

I claim:

1. In a ladys handbag or the like, an internal pocket structure comprising three panel portions joined to each other along the side edges thereof, the intermediate panel being joined to the other panels along its horizontal edges thereby to provide two pockets one having its opening normally disposed along the upper horizontal edge and the other having its opening normally disposed along the lower horizontal edge, flaps joined to the outer panels of said pocket structure normally closing the pocket openings thereof, and said pocket structure being hingedly secured internally to a vertical wall portion of the handbag by stitching along a line adjacent theline of join-'d'er between the outer panel and its flap which are adjacent the wall portion to which the pocket structure is secured whereby said pocket struc= ture may be turned upwardly to afiord convenient access to the pocket opening which is normally disposed at the lower horizontal edge thereof 2. In a ladys handbag or the like, a unitary internal pocket structure comprising threepanel portions, the intermediate panel of which is joined to the other panels along horizontal crease lines, and the side edges of all the panels being secured to each other thereby to provide two pockets, one having its opening normally disposed along the upper horizontal edge and the other having its opening normally disposed along the lower horizontal edge, flaps joined to the outer panels of said pocket structure along horizontal crease lines and normally closing the pocket openings thereof, and said pocket structure being hingedly secured internally to a vertical wall portion of the bag by stitching. along a line adjacent the crease line between the outer panel and its flap which are adjacent the wall portion to which'the pocket structure is secured whereby said pocket structure may be turned upwardly to afford convenient access to the pocket opening which is normally disposed at the lower horizontal HARRY s. FORS'I'. 

